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Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Lebanese call for an uprising after protests rock Beirut
2020-08-10
[Al Ahram] Some Lebanese called on Sunday for a sustained uprising to topple their leaders amid public fury over this week's devastating explosion in Beirut, and the country's top Christian Maronite holy man said the cabinet should resign.

Protesters have called on the government to quit over what they say was negligence that led to Tuesday's explosion. Anger boiled over into violent mostly peaceful scenes in central Beirut on Saturday.

Christian Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros al-Rai said the cabinet should resign as it cannot "change the way it governs".
"Reminder to self: Get a remote car starter"
"The resignation of an MP or a minister is not enough ... the whole government should resign as it is unable to help the country recover," he said in his Sunday sermon.

Information Minister Manal Abdel Samad said she was resigning on Sunday, citing the earth-shattering kaboom and the failure of the government to carry out reforms.

Saturday's protests were the biggest since October when thousands of people erupted into the streets to demand an end to corruption, bad governance and mismanagement.

About 10,000 people gathered at Martyrs' Square, which was transformed into a battle zone in the evening between police and protesters who tried to break down a barrier along a road leading to parliament. Some demonstrators stormed government ministries and the Association of Lebanese Banks.

Related:
Bechara Boutros al-Rai: 2020-07-13 Lebanon's top Christian cleric seen to criticise Hezbollah, allies over crisis
Bechara Boutros al-Rai: 2019-11-12 Hezbollah says its 'arms won't be twisted' as crisis deepens
Related:
Martyrs'' Square: 2015-08-31 Beirut protests end with 3-day deadline for government
Martyrs'' Square: 2015-08-15 Army in Tripoli parades to celebrate 75th anniversary; public dismissive
Martyrs'' Square: 2015-04-02 Troops return to Tobruk from Sidra front
Posted by:Fred

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